Babyology readers reveal their craziest pregnancy cravings

Think you had some pretty strange cravings when pregnant? Come and see what our Babyology readers wanted to feast on while pregnant and learn what some of these cravings could mean for your health. You may not be alone in your late night lettuce cravings after all…

Pregnancy can turn you into a blubbering mess one day, a nauseous nightmare the next and a beached whale by the end. And through it all, many women also experience some pretty intense cravings for all sorts of foods and household items.

What are some of the weirdest combinations? We took a Babyology vote and here are the winners:

Mussels in vinegar & crayfish

Parmesan cheese on pancakes

Beef jerky and beer

Steamed cabbage smothered in butter

Cucumber, pepper and squash

Pizza crusts

Raspberry jam on everything

Lettuce with ice cream

Spaghetti mixed with a can of baked beans and a dash of Tabasco sauce

Pickles and silverside

Chocolate milk and Weetbix

Wholegrain mustard, by the spoonful

Hot chips dipped in a spearmint milkshake

Fig jam and sardine sandwiches

But there’s more. Some mums even admit to craving household items, not to eat, but just to smell.

Vapour rub

Diesel fuel

Washing powder

Soap, eucalyptus and toothpaste

Strangely enough, many of our readers admitted to craving the same things. Some of the most common cravings include:

Ice

Milk

Chocolate

Lettuce

Milkshakes

Hot chips

Oranges

Fruit of all sort

Cordial

Ice cream

Soft drink

Peanut butter

Potato

According to an old wives’ tale, what you crave during pregnancy can indicate the gender of bub. If you are desperate for sweets, then it’s a girl. For savoury – then it’s a boy. However, there has been little evidence to prove this.

Nutritional therapist, Kerry Torrens explains that, while wanting chocolate while pregnant doesn’t necessarily mean you’re having a girl, there could actually be a connection between pregnancy cravings and nutrition. Often common cravings are linked to a deficiency in your diet.

Craving chocolate, for example, could be an indication that you need more magnesium in your diet. Craving ice is often associated with those who are low in iron and wanting lemons may suggest that you are lacking Vitamin C. Torrens also suggests that if you’re craving ice cream, then it could indicate a protein deficiency.

As long as your cravings do not threaten your health and you continue to eat a balanced diet, Torrens suggests it’s okay to go with your cravings and indulge occasionally.